The vast majority of the 2016 NRL season has gone by in the blink of an eye and while you could emphasize with any fan that would simply want to forget the litany of scandals, blunders and headlines that plagued the Eels this year. In spite of that all, I feel that this year will go down as one of the most important – and ultimately positive – periods in our club’s sixty nine year history. There is no need to retread the well worn ground of our salary cap and governance issues but given where we now stand we have ostensibly undergone an ugly, painful and decidedly necessary farewell to an era of mindless bickering, ceaseless politicking and unchecked factionalism. It is all too fitting that fate would allow fans to partake in a strikingly symbolic farewell of their own to this torrid era in the form of the final ever game to be played by the Eels at Parramatta Stadium – at least in its current incarnation.

It goes without saying that it would be amazing to see Parramatta Stadium sold out one last time with fans painting it a sea of blue and gold to both commiserate the loss of our home and celebrate the new beginning that comes with it. We can probably skip the Viking funeral this time around though.

And on that bombshell, welcome to the last ever Team List Tuesday for a home game at Parramatta Stadium!

NRL Team List

Continuing with the entwined themes of farewells and new beginnings we start with the Bevan French and Michael Gordon. French may have played the entirety of the game against the Canberra Raiders at fullback but this week marks the first time young Bevan has been officially named in the #1. The livewire fullback produced a mixed bag against the Raiders last week.  He displayed just how dangerous his ability to back up on both edges and lurk around the ruck can be to the opposition but also how much rustiness there is currently to his ball-playing ability. I have a huge amount of faith in French’s ability to be a play-making option from the back but it is quite obvious that he is an adjustment phase as he tries to match his own pace to that of the brutally quick NRL defensive lines.

The Eels will otherwise field what essentially amounts to a full strength outfit. Beau Scott, Brad Takairangi and Tepai Moeroa are all listed to play after failing to take to the field in our nation’s capital which means that Rory O’Brien (already ruled out via suspension) and David Gower make way in the forwards while Vai Toutai will turn out for the Magpies.

Dyldam Parramatta Eels v St. George Illawarra Dragons, Pirtek Stadium, Monday 29 August.

1. Bevan French

2. Semi Radradra

3. Michael Jennings

4. Brad Takairangi

5. Michael Gordon

6. Clint Gutherson

7. Jeff Robson

8. Danny Wicks

9. Isaac De Gois

10. Tim Mannah

11. Manu Ma’u

12. Tepai Moeroa

13. Beau Scott

Interchange

14. Kaysa Pritchard

15. Kenny Edwards

16. Peni Terepo

17. Daniel Alvaro

18. David Gower

Intrust Super Premiership Team List

Well what do you know? One week after dropping a vital game against the then fourth-placed Wests Tigers and seemingly dropping out of contention for the finals, the mighty Magpies have knocked over the second-placed Illawarra Cutters and with the aid of a string of favourable results – they now amazingly finish the round in seventh place. There is no time to rest on their laurels though as they now suit up to face the table-topping Mounties in the regulation season finale. In the event of a loss a second wave of favourable results would, namely New Zealand defeating Penrith, would see Wenty through to the finals but they do hold their fate in their own hands.

Wenty will call upon the same rag-tag bunch that has consistently defied the odds over the last 6 weeks to dig deep and produce one more boil over. Coaches Cayless and Grima have brought Vai Toutai and James Hasson back into the starting team in what should be a moderate boost for the boys in black and white.

Holden Cup Team List

The Eels have plummeted to seventh place in the Holden Cup after a humbling 28-12 loss to the Canberra Raiders and while their spot in the Top 8 is clinched they will clearly need to regain their best form over the next two weeks if they are to make an impression in the post-season.

Parramatta will field a new-look backline as Mason Cerruto (fullback), Tui Afualo (centre) and Atini Gafa (centre) are thrown into the fray to kickstart our edges in both attack and defence while Tui Oloapu makes his return on the bench.

The Dragons are one of the teams that leap-frogged the Eels after last week’s loss and they now occupy fourth place. Despite sitting three places above the Eels on the ladder, the Dragons only hold a one competition point lead so with a strong finish to the year, the Eels could potentially end up in the Top 4 if other results also fall their way.

Dyldam Parramatta Eels Holden Cup side v St. George Illawarra Dragons, Pirtek Stadium, Monday 29 August

1.     Mason Cerruto

2.     James Gammidge

3.     Tuimavave Afualo

4.     Atini Gafa

5.     Jermaine Mati-Leifi

6.     Michael Doolan

7.     Troy Dargan

8.     Kurt De Luis

9.     Denzal Tonise (c)

10.   Jamie Stowers

11.   Jack Morris

12.   Tyrell Fuimaono

13.   Tom Amone

14.   Dean Matterson

15.   Tui Oloapu

16.   Tom Field

17.   Jye Challenor

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